Removing Barriers to Employment for the Homeless

The Hospitality Hub works with those experiencing homelessness or on the verge of becoming homeless.  One of our services is to assist clients with gaining employment.  Employment is a huge step in exiting homelessness.  However, many clients have a difficult time covering their transportation needs in that first month.  They face additional challenges as well such a lack of transportation during night shift hours, bus routes that do not extend to warehouse districts, and difficult to find or very expensive ride shares.

The Hub would like to assist clients during this vulnerable time by covering transportation expenses until clients receive their first paycheck.  We are also partnering with local transportation and job agencies to secure buses that will fill the gap between the local bus routes and main work areas.  Our clients will have reserved spaces on these buses to ensure they can get to and from work on time.  Meeting these challenges will not only allow more clients to succeed in maintaining their jobs, but also allow more clients to accept jobs that they recently had to turn down because they had no way to get to and from work. This is a barrier for some to even get out of homeslessness.

Once the funds have been raised, we will begin identifying clients who need immediate support.  They will receive the bus passes or bus vouchers needed to ensure they can get to and from work on time.  We will then work with the job agencies to employ more clients, and provide them with transportation support once the job has been secured.  Support will last until the client has received their first paycheck.

The Hub has identified a real area that hinders many clients who are recently housed and coming out of homeslessness.  This is a vulnerable time for our clients and we want to assist them with being as successful as possible.  Employment is a huge factor.  However, when clients face transportation needs such as a lack of transportation or the funds needed to secure transportation, their job is at risk and so is their housing.  We believe by covering transportation costs and securing new modes of transportation, our clients will be better equipped to maintain their jobs, leading to successfully exiting homeslessness.

“Many of our clients are able to get jobs working night shifts in warehouses, but most lose them quickly due to lack of ability to get there and back home. The local bus routes are unreliable because they are operating at reduced capacity because of the pandemic, hours of operation do not cover night shifts, and routes do not go into the warehouse district. Losing a job because of these challenges greatly increases a person's chances of re-entry in hoemlessness.” - Roman, Street Outreach Specialist